Expandable jewelry articles and method for making the same

ABSTRACT

The invention includes an adjustable jewelry article and method for making the same. The article includes a filament having a first end and a second end, a first retainer mounted on the filament for capturing a first portion of the filament proximate the first end of the filament and adjustably capturing a second portion of the filament displaced from the ends of the filament, and a second retainer for capturing a third portion of the filament proximate the second end of the filament and a fourth portion of the filament displaced from the ends of the filament such that the filament forms a first loop that can be adjusted in size by capturing varying amounts of filament between the first and second retainers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/701,668 filed Jul. 22, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject disclosure relates to loop shaped jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, rings and the like, and more particularly to an improved system for varying a length of a chain, cord, wire or like structure.

2. Background of the Related Art

Conventional necklaces are disadvantaged in that once assembled, there is no possibility of varying a size of the necklace. This limits the utility of the necklace. For example, as the neckline varies on a person's attire, one cannot vary the size of the necklace to present the necklace properly. While certain solutions to this problem have been proposed, such solutions are inadequate for various reasons. As such, there still remains a continued need in the art for a jewelry such as a necklace that can be varied in size. There also remains a need in the art for jewelry that is easy to use and easy to make. The present invention provides a solution for these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The purpose and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in and apparent from the description that follows. Additional advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the methods and systems particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well as from the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied herein, the invention includes an adjustable jewelry article. The article includes a filament having a first end and a second end, a first retainer mounted on the filament for capturing a first portion of the filament proximate the first end of the filament and adjustably capturing a second portion of the filament displaced from the ends of the filament, and a second retainer for capturing a third portion of the filament proximate the second end of the filament and a fourth portion of the filament displaced from the ends of the filament such that the filament forms a first loop that can be adjusted in size by capturing varying amounts of filament between the first and second retainers.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the article can be configured such that a second loop is formed by varying the amount of filament between the first and second retainers. The filament can be selected from the group consisting of a wire, a chain and a cord or combinations thereof. The first retainer may include a first bead defining a first passage therethrough, the filament being adapted and configured to traverse the first passage. The first and second portions of the filament may traverse the first passage, if desired. Moreover, the first retainer may include a second bead affixed to the first bead. The second bead can define a second passage through the second bead, wherein the first portion of the filament traverses the first passage and the second portion of the filament traverses the second passage. If desired, the jewelry article can include at least one charm attached thereto. In accordance with specific embodiments, the jewelry article may be chosen from the group consisting of a necklace, a ring and a bracelet. If desired, the first and second retainers may adjustably capture the first and third portions of the filament.

The invention also provides an adjustable length necklace. The necklace includes a chain having a first end and a second end, a first primary bead for capturing a first portion of the chain proximate the first end, a first secondary bead attached to the first primary bead for adjustably capturing a second portion of the chain, a second primary bead for capturing a third portion of the chain proximate the second end, and a second secondary bead attached to the second primary bead for adjustably capturing a fourth portion of the chain, such that the chain forms a loop that can be adjusted in size by having varying amounts of chain captured between the first and second secondary beads.

In accordance with a further aspect of the necklace of the invention, a second loop can be formed by varying the amount of chain between the first and second secondary beads. If desired, one or more charms may be attached to the necklace. If further desired, the primary beads may adjustably capture the chain.

The invention also provides a method for making an article of jewelry. The method includes providing a filament having a first end and a second end, mounting a first retainer on the filament to capture a first portion of the filament proximate the first end of the filament and to adjustably capture a second portion of the filament displaced from the ends of the filament, and mounting a second retainer on the filament to capture a third portion of the filament proximate the second end of the filament and to capture a fourth portion of the filament displaced from the ends of the filament such that the filament forms a first loop that can be adjusted in size by capturing varying amounts of filament between the first and second retainers.

In accordance with a further aspect of the method of the invention, the method can further include the step of forming a second loop by varying the amount of filament between the first and second retainers. The first retainer may include a first bead defining a first passage therethrough, the filament being adapted and configured to traverse the first passage. The first and second portions of the filament may traverse the first passage. The method can further include attaching at least one charm to the filament. The first and second retainers may adjustably capture the first and third portions of the filament, respectively, if desired.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It should be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented and utilized in numerous ways, including without limitation as a process, an apparatus, a system, a device, and a method for applications now known and later developed. These and other unique features of the invention disclosed herein will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

So that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed invention appertains will more readily understand how to make and use the same, reference may be had to the drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1-4 are views of a necklace constructed in accordance with the subject technology.

FIGS. 5-7 are views of another necklace constructed in accordance with the subject technology.

FIG. 8 is a view of still another necklace constructed in accordance with the subject technology.

FIG. 9 is a view of another necklace constructed in accordance with the subject technology.

FIG. 10 is a view of another necklace constructed in accordance with the subject technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The method and corresponding steps of the invention will be described in conjunction with the detailed description of the system.

The present invention overcomes many of the prior art problems associated with jewelry. The advantages, and other features of the jewelry disclosed herein, will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings which set forth representative embodiments of the present invention and wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural elements.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an adjustable length necklace is shown and referred to generally by the reference numeral 100. The necklace 100 includes a filament, such as a chain 102, having a first end 104 and a second end 106. It will be recognized by those of skill in the art that the term “end” can refer to either the terminal extremity of chain 102 or an end region of the chain 102 proximate the terminal extremity of the chain. Each end 104, 106 of chain 102 is captured by retainer such as a primary bead 108. Primary bead 108 can be, for example only and without limitation, that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,376, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Thus, although the ends 104, 106 are captured, the chain 102 may selectively pass through the beads 108. Secondary beads 110 that may be fixed to the primary beads, respectively, adjustably capture the chain 102 such that the chain 102 forms a primary loop 112 and a secondary loop 114. By sliding the chain through the secondary beads 110, which are preferably similar to the primary beads 108, the necklace 100 can be adjusted in size. Preferably, the necklace 100 includes a decorative pendant 116. It is envisioned that the primary beads 108 may alternatively fix the chain 102 therein.

Referring to FIGS. 5-7, another embodiment of a necklace of the subject technology is referred to generally by the reference numeral 200. The necklace 200 is similar to the necklace 100 described above, and therefore like reference numerals preceded by the numeral “2” instead of the numeral “1”, are used to indicate like elements. A primary difference of the necklace 200 in comparison to the necklace 100 is that the necklace 200 only requires two beads 208. Each bead 208 not only adjustably captures the ends 204, 206 of the chain 202 but another portion of the chain 202 as well. Accordingly, a primary loop 212 and a secondary loop 214 are formed. It is envisioned that the secondary loop 214 serves as a possible location to attach additional beads, pendants and the like.

Referring to FIGS. 8-10, additional embodiments of a necklace of the subject technology is referred to generally by the reference numeral 300. The necklace 300 is similar to the necklace 100 described above, and therefore like reference numerals preceded by the numeral “3” instead of the numeral “1”, are used to indicate like elements. A difference is that necklace 300 has a plurality of charms 316. In addition, FIG. 10 also discloses a plurality of bracelets 400, each bracelet 400 defining a primary loop 412 and having a plurality of charms 416.

While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, while a necklace has been disclosed herein primarily, it will be recognized that the teachings of the invention are equally applicable to any suitable loop jewelry, or jewelry based on elongate filaments, chains or cords that may have a varying length 

1. An adjustable jewelry article comprising: a) a filament having a first end and a second end; b) a first retainer mounted on the filament for capturing a first portion of the filament proximate the first end of the filament and adjustably capturing a second portion of the filament displaced from the ends of the filament; and c) a second retainer for capturing a third portion of the filament proximate the second end of the filament and a fourth portion of the filament displaced from the ends of the filament such that the filament forms a first loop that can be adjusted in size by capturing varying amounts of filament between the first and- second retainers.
 2. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein a second loop is formed by varying the amount of filament between the first and second retainers.
 3. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the filament is selected from the group consisting of a wire, a chain and a cord.
 4. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the first retainer includes a first bead defining a first passage therethrough, the filament being adapted and configured to traverse the first passage.
 5. The jewelry article of claim 4, wherein the first and second portions of the filament traverse the first passage.
 6. The jewelry article of claim 4, wherein the first retainer includes a second bead affixed to the first bead.
 7. The jewelry article of claim 6, wherein the second bead defines a second passage through the second bead, wherein the first portion of the filament traverses the first passage and the second portion of the filament traverses the second passage.
 8. The jewelry article of claim 1, further comprising at least one charm attached to the jewelry article.
 9. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the jewelry article is chosen from the group consisting of a necklace, a ring and a bracelet.
 10. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the first and second retainers adjustably capture the first and third portions of the filament.
 11. An adjustable length necklace comprising: a) a chain having a first end and a second end; b) a first primary bead for capturing a first portion of the chain proximate the first end; c) a first secondary bead attached to the first primary bead for adjustably capturing a second portion of the chain; d) a second primary bead for capturing a third portion of the chain proximate the second end; and e) a second secondary bead attached to the second primary bead for adjustably capturing a fourth portion of the chain such that the chain forms a loop that can be adjusted in size by having varying amounts of chain captured between the first and second secondary beads.
 12. The adjustable length necklace of claim 11, wherein a second loop is formed by varying the amount of chain between the first and second secondary beads.
 13. The adjustable length necklace of claim 11, further comprising at least one charm attached to the necklace.
 14. The adjustable length necklace of claim 1, wherein the primary beads adjustably capture the chain.
 15. A method for making an article of jewelry, comprising: a) providing a filament having a first end and a second end; b) mounting a first retainer on the filament to capture a first portion of the filament proximate the first end of the filament and to adjustably capture a second portion of the filament displaced from the ends of the filament; and c) mounting a second retainer on the filament to capture a third portion of the filament proximate the second end of the filament and to capture a fourth portion of the filament displaced from the ends of the filament such that the filament forms a first loop that can be adjusted in size by capturing varying amounts of filament between the first and second retainers.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of forming a second loop by varying the amount of filament between the first and second retainers.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first retainer includes a first bead defining a first passage therethrough, the filament being adapted and configured to traverse the first passage.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second portions of the filament traverse the first passage.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching at least one charm to the filament.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second retainers adjustably capture the first and third portions of the filament, respectively. 